Eric Garcetti nominated as US envoy to India: Los Angeles Mayor co-chaired Joe Biden's national campaign

US president Joe Biden on Friday nominated Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to serve as the country's ambassador to India, according to the White House.

If confirmed by the Senate, the 50-year-old Garcetti would replace Kenneth Juster, who served as the US Ambassador to India during the Trump administration. Earlier this week, Juster was appointed as a distinguished fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Who is Eric Garcetti?

Part of Joe Biden's inner circle

• Garcetti was one of the co-chairs of Biden's national campaign. He served on the committee that vetted his pool of vice presidential contenders and served as one of several co-chairs for Biden’s inaugural committee. According to the AP report, Biden is rewarding his loyalist by nominating him as the ambassador.

Controversy

According to The Washington Post, Garcetti has recently been embroiled in controversy in Los Angeles. A Los Angeles police officer has filed a lawsuit against the city, saying that Garcetti's former top aide Rick Jacobs harassed him and that Garcetti did not stop the behavior. Jacobs has denied the allegations, and Garcetti has said he did not witness any inappropriate behavior. Also, Garcetti’s chief of staff, Ana Guerrero, was suspended in June after mocking labor icon Dolores Huerta.

According to the AP report, one of Garcetti's former deputy mayors was indicted on corruption charges in an ongoing federal investigation at City Hall.

'Honoured to accept nomination'

In a statement on Friday, Garcetti said he is honoured to accept the nomination and will bring the same energy, commitment and love with which he served the city to his new role.

I love Los Angeles and will always be an Angeleno. I want you to know that every day I am your Mayor, I will continue to lead this city like it is my first day on the job, with passion, focus, and determination.

— MayorOfLA (@MayorOfLA) July 9, 2021

"I love Los Angeles and will always be an Angeleno. I want you to know that every day I am your Mayor, I will continue to lead this city like it is my first day on the job, with passion, focus, and determination", Garcetti said in the statement. "I have committed my life to service as an activist, as a teacher, as a naval officer, as a public servant, and if confirmed, next as an ambassador. Part of that commitment means that when your nation calls, you answer that call," he said.

"And should I be confirmed, I'll bring this same energy, commitment, and love for this city to my new role and will forge partnerships and connections that will help Los Angeles," Garcetti said.

Biden also nominated Denise Campbell Bauer as his envoy to Monaco, Peter D Haas to Bangladesh, and Bernadette M Meehan as his top diplomat to Chile.

With inputs from agencies